Ajax workshop shows ease of Internet voting

Method could increase voter turnout in Town

Internet voting

Keith Gilligan / Metroland

AJAX -- Jason Cooper had a chance to experiment with Internet voting at a workshop hosted by Ajax. The workshop was held to introduce voters to how Internet voting works. Ajax is using the voting method for the October municipal elections. May 21, 2014.

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The Town is using Internet voting in the October municipal election with the hope that more people will cast a ballot.

After a workshop on Internet voting, Ms. Clark said, “It’s looks very simple and convenient. I thought it might be a bit more involved.”

Ms. Thorne has a similar view.

“It’s a lot simpler than I thought.”

She’s doesn’t know if she’ll vote from home.

“I’m not sure, because I’m used to going to the polls.”

Ajax put on the workshop last week to familiarize people with the system. About 40 people attended, including representatives from different municipalities in Durham Region.

Deputy Clerk Nicole Wellsbury said anyone who has lived in Ajax for years knows “voter apathy, voter turnout has been an issue here for a long time.”

The aim is to make voting so convenient and accessible, there’s no reason not to vote, Ms. Wellsbury said.

During the eight-day voting period, people can vote “anywhere they can get an Internet connection,” she noted, adding it could be “their couch, office, GO train. If you like the personal connection, you can still go to the polls.”

Ms. Goodman noted the main reason people like Internet voting is the accessibility factor.

In 2003, 12 municipalities in Ontario offered Internet voting. For this year’s vote, 98 communities are using the method, she said.

When paper balloting, phone-in or Internet voting is offered, “overall when all three methods or a combination of the three are offered, Internet voting is the preferred method,” Ms. Goodman said.

She added older people, who are “more committed” to voting, like to use Internet voting.

When Markham used electronic voting in 2003, it saw a 300-per cent increase in voter turnout, she said.

Clerk Marty de Rond said, “We think this is a good year to leap into it and leap into it in a big way.”

The advantages “far outweigh” the negatives, he added.

With people doing their banking online, “there should not be fears of voting online,” Mr. de Rond noted.

Ms. Wellsbury pointed out, “It’s important to note no information on how you voted is captured or used anywhere else.”

Dean Smith, president of Intelivote Systems Inc., the company retained to provide the service, said, “All the interest in Internet voting is for one reason. Most want to start to engage more people. They want more people voting.”

Mr. Smith added, “The biggest problem that’s going to happen is people will take a picture of their ballot. The risks associated with Internet voting is no different than the risk with a paper ballot or a telephone ballot.”